It's the two year anniversary of the Citizens United v FEC decision that has sent us down the rabbit hole.

I read today that an independent, national  poll of small business owners reports that 66% believe that the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizen's United vs FEC two years ago hurts small companies, and 88% hold a negative view of the role money plays in politics. Those are big numbers folks, but as a small business person, I'm not surprised.

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 8, 2011 — Dan Danner, the president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress this evening.

“Small-business owners needed to hear something bold from President Obama tonight, but instead just heard more of the same. His plan does not address the fundamental problems facing small business today. In addition, recent history tells us that a huge federal stimulus program is the wrong approach, and again sends the message that the president thinks he can spend his way out of this recession.

“The truth is that small businesses need the government out of their way. Tax breaks are always a welcome help to small businesses, especially in these tough economic times. But those outlined tonight by the president are temporary, and avoid the question of meaningful business tax reform. Lack of sales is still a major concern and there is a great deal of uncertainty among small businesses thanks to the threat of higher taxes and the thousands of pending federal regulations. The president’s speech did little to ease those concerns.”

I testified before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee on March 30 about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform) for small businesses. Below is the summary of that testimony.  You can read the full version at the Main Street Alliance's blog, or you can watch the hearing on Youtube.  Tune in at 1:44:30 if you just want to watch my statement.

I’ve been a small business owner for 17 years, and now employ 29 people.  I’ve been offering a group health plan since 2000 or so.  Since we started offering coverage, our rates have gone up every year.  Two years ago, I switched to a new insurer that does rating differently, spreading risk and costs more evenly.  This is saving me money.  I see it as a preview of the new health insurance exchanges coming in 2014.

Editor's Note: Rick Poore may be heading to Washington, DC to testify in front of Congress on behalf of small business owners.  We will let you know ASAP the details, but we wanted to re-publish his blog so you can also see what a great advocate Rick is...

This Wednesday, the new health care law turns one year old. With the three-ringed circus of lawsuits, partisan politicking in Congress, and grandstanding about “nullification” in state legislatures, it’s easy to lose sight of one simple fact: this law is helping small businesses.